The biggest problem with the DD situation in the artistic nude category has been the people that they have chosen to select them. A little while ago it was two women from southern California. They had very specific ideas as to what a DD needed, and would rarely step outside of those boundaries (as in about of all the DD's they gave, 95% of them were in therevery narrow view). If the image wasn't shot in a studio with expensive equipment and major lighting, if it wasn't black and white, and if it wasn't "edgy", then it basically would not even get a look in. They were also in charge of the fetish gallery as well - which explains why the selections in the artistic nude category had to be edgy or even verging on the dark. Very few 'beautiful' photos wold get a look in.Then they stopped doing it and the moderator changed sometime early this year, so I though that here was an opportunity for the vast majority of art nudes would then get a chance at recognition. She was based in the UK as well, so I had hoped that it would go away from the very biased selection process from before. Unfortunately, she has apparently got quite ill so she hasn't been as active. But the new art nude moderator (in conjunction with the existing lady in the UK) is one of the old ones I've just mentioned. She is also in charge of the fetish gallery again. So what have we seen in the art nude DD's since? More of the same. So if you want to get an art nude DD you need to be a fully professional photographer with a full on studio and expensive equipment, shot in black and white only, and only have ideas that are dark or 'different'.

I used to think that DD's were designed to recognise skill at all levels. From the talented amateur to the professionals. I had thought that it was a way for other photographers to show recognition that they actually liked their work no matter what the background of the photographer was who had their work up for nomination. On that basis, I was hoping that one day I would have been good enough to get one. My thought was that if I got one, then it would be an affirmation that I actually can take a decent art nude photo. Indeed, I have had quite a few of my outdoor nudes nominated for DD's - but of course to this date I have not received one. Maybe one day, but I am not holding my breath. I do get lots of positive comments though from actual photographers who do like my work. I've come to the realisation that that is worth more than a DD for someone like myself, simply because I do not fit into the very limited scope of photos that seem to be DD worthy by the moderators.

Oh well, after all, this is just a hobby of mine. One that I am passionate about of course, but I do not make any money doing this at all. Luckily there are still quite a few very good photographers that I can enjoy watching their work here and learn from. That is how I have evolved as a photographer, and for that reason I am still happy with deviant Art. After wading through most of the dross that appears in my inbox each morning, there are still plenty of gems to enjoy here DD's are a great idea in theory, but in practice, they have lost their shine considerably in the last 4 years.

--
What is more beautiful than a natural, curvy, confident nude woman - especially outside in nature?

I certainly can't think of anything

That's nothing new, though. I stopped bothering to look at DDs a couple of years back, my artistic sense and the DD pickers clearly do not agree and they would get into mud-wrestling matches if I kept looking.

--
I am everything. I am anything. I am automatic. I am yesterday. I am everyday. I am gonna be... REBORN!!!